Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent |
5,013,896
|
Ono
,   et al.
|
May 7, 1991
|
Cashierless checkout system using customer passcard
Abstract
A checkout system includes a plurality of purchased goods entry terminals
having a scanning section, a display section, a printing section and a
passcard issuing section for issuing a passcard that includes customer
identification and an amount of money, a pluralilty of money receiving
terminals separated from the entry terminals and having a passcard
read/write section, a money receiving section, a printer, and a displaying
section, the read/write section recording the reception of money for
goods, an exit gate control unit having a passcard checker for checking
the payment of money and an exit gate controller to allow customers to
pass through the exit gate, and a control and processing unit (CPU)
coupled to the entry terminals, the money receiving terminals and the exit
gate control unit to assure correct payment of money for the purchased
goods.
Inventors:
|
Ono; Tsutomu (Odawara, JP);
Nogami; Masaru (Odawara, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
NCR Corporation (Dayton, OH)
|
Appl. No.:
|
269813 |
Filed:
|
November 9, 1988 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Dec 28, 1987[JP] | 62-330403 |
Current U.S. Class: |
235/381; 235/375; 235/376; 235/377; 235/383 |
Intern'l Class: |
G06F 015/21 |
Field of Search: |
235/375,380,381,382,382.5,383,385,419,462
364/400,401,405
186/59,60,61
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3519993 | Jul., 1970 | Sakai et al. | 235/382.
|
3531625 | Sep., 1970 | Mizuta et al. | 235/382.
|
3560932 | Feb., 1971 | Morita | 235/382.
|
3675206 | Jul., 1972 | Osaki et al. | 235/382.
|
3716697 | Feb., 1973 | Weir | 235/383.
|
3935933 | Feb., 1976 | Tanaka et al. | 235/383.
|
4068213 | Jan., 1978 | Nakamura | 235/381.
|
4108363 | Aug., 1978 | Susumu | 235/383.
|
4373133 | Feb., 1983 | Clyne et al. | 235/385.
|
4521677 | Jun., 1985 | Sarwin | 235/383.
|
4578567 | Mar., 1986 | Granzow et al. | 235/382.
|
4583083 | Apr., 1986 | Bojasky | 186/59.
|
4583619 | Apr., 1986 | Fry | 186/59.
|
4676343 | Jun., 1987 | Humble et al. | 235/383.
|
4679154 | Jul., 1987 | Blanford | 235/383.
|
4686357 | Aug., 1987 | Douno et al. | 235/419.
|
4724306 | Feb., 1988 | Kitaoka et al. | 235/383.
|
4731575 | Mar., 1988 | Sloan | 235/381.
|
4775782 | Oct., 1988 | Mergenthaler et al. | 186/61.
|
4787467 | Nov., 1988 | Johnson | 235/385.
|
4866661 | Sep., 1989 | de Prins | 235/385.
|
4894522 | Jan., 1990 | Elliott | 235/462.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
899019 | Jun., 1984 | BE.
| |
167860 | Jan., 1986 | EP.
| |
169649 | Jan., 1986 | EP.
| |
2596553 | Oct., 1987 | FR.
| |
60-263295 | May., 1984 | JP.
| |
2119988 | Nov., 1983 | GB.
| |
2161631 | Jan., 1986 | GB.
| |
87/00322 | Jan., 1987 | WO.
| |
8804813 | Jun., 1988 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Levy; Stuart S.
Assistant Examiner: Weinhardt; Robert A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hawk, Jr.; Wilbert, Sessler, Jr.; Albert L., Muckenthaler; George J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cashierless checkout system in a checkout area comprising a
plurality of consumer goods entry terminals each including a scanning
section for scanning code data indicated on consumer goods to be
purchased, a displaying section and a printing section for displaying and
for printing information corresponding to the consumer goods code data
thus scanned, and an issuing section for issuing a passcard on which are
recorded an identification number of a customer and an amount of money
owed corresponding to the value of the scanned goods, a
plurality of money receiving terminals which are separated from said
consumer goods entry terminals, each of said money receiving terminals
including a passcard read/write section for performing reading and writing
of data on said passcard upon insertion thereof into said money receiving
terminal, a money receiving section for receiving an amount of money for
the scanned goods, a printer section for issuing a receipt, and a display
section for displaying amount data and other information thereon, said
passcard being dispensed from said money receiving terminal and said
passcard further including money receiving data written from said passcard
read/write section after the reception of said received amount of money,
an
exit gate control unit which is provided in the vicinity of an exit of said
checkout area and including a passcard checker for checking said passcard
to check whether or not the amount of money received is equal to the
amount of money owed and an exit gate controller for controlling an exit
gate under the control of said passcard checker to enable customers to
pass through said exit gate, and a
control and processing unit coupled to said consumer goods entry terminals,
to said money receiving terminals and to said exit gate control unit to
control the operations of said terminals and said control unit thus
coupled therewith and to store sold goods data, whereby the reception of
said amount of money owed is ensured by checking said passcard and
enabling the customer to pass through said checkout area and past said
consumer goods entry terminals, said money receiving terminals and said
exit gate control unit.
2. The checkout system of claim 1 wherein each of said consumer goods entry
terminals includes a control section coupled to said passcard issuing
section and to said control and processing unit for outputting the ID
number of a customer, for outputting data on the amount of money owed for
the scanned goods as calculated by said control and processing unit, and
for outputting a signal to said passcard issuing section to issue a
passcard.
3. The checkout system of claim 1 wherein each of said purchased goods
entry terminals includes a keyboard section to enable said scanning
section.
4. The checkout system of claim 1 wherein each of said money receiving
terminals includes a control section coupled to said passcard read/write
section and to said control and processing unit for outputting data on the
amount of money owed for the scanned goods as read out in said passcard
R/W section.
5. The checkout system of claim 4 wherein said money receiving section
includes a cash receiving section for receiving cash, a counting section
coupled to said cash receiving section and to said control section for
counting the cash received from the customer and for sending data on such
cash received to the control and processing unit, a cash storing section
coupled to said counting section for storing cash received therefrom, and
a cash disbursing section coupled to said counting section and to said
control section for disbursing the difference in cash between the money
received and the money owed.
6. A method of checking out goods in an automated system having a plurality
of entry terminals, a plurality of money receiving terminals, an exit gate
control unit and a control and processing unit comprising the steps of:
scanning coded data displayed on the goods at one of the entry terminals,
displaying information corresponding to the coded data and printing the
information for use by a customer,
issuing a read/write passcard having customer identification and an amount
of money recorded thereon corresponding to the value of goods that have
been scanned,
reading the passcard at one of the money receiving terminals to initiate
the payment of money for the scanned goods,
inserting money for said scanned goods into said one money receiving
terminal,
recording the amount of inserted money onto said passcard,
conveying information relative to the coded data on said goods to the
control and processing unit corresponding to the amount and price of
scanned goods and storing the information in such unit,
checking the passcard to determine whether the correct amount of money has
been paid for the scanned goods, and
enabling the exit gate control unit to allow the customer to pass through
the exit gate upon assurance that payment has been made for the scanned
goods.
7. The method of claim 6 including the step of operating a keyboard at the
entry terminal to enable scanning the coded data.
8. The method of claim 6 including the steps of receiving money for the
scanned goods after conveying the coded data information, counting the
money received, and disbursing any change in money received and money owed
for the scanned goods at the money receiving terminal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for checking out goods or
merchandise in a supermarket or like business entity without the aid or
benefit of a cashier or checkout clerk.
As prior art of the cashierless checkout system, there has been proposed an
invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 119042/84, which is
a patent application submitted from Omron Tateisi Electronics Co., under
the name of R. Koji, entitled "Self Checkout Gate". This patent
application discloses a checkout gate comprising a scanning unit which
permits the customers to scan their purchased goods, a purchased goods bin
into which the purchased goods are deposited, a money settling device
through which the customers pay money for their purchased goods, and a
shutter section adapted to open a shutter of an outlet of the purchased
goods bin at the completion of the payment of money to permit the
customers to take out their purchased goods.
One drawback of the above-mentioned prior art is that the customers can not
take out their purchased goods for a period of time even though they have
paid the money for such goods. The shutter section of this checkout
operation takes a lot of time and causes a jammed condition at the
checkout gate. An alternative proposal has been made wherein such jamming
at the checkout gate or other time-consuming operations are relieved by
separating the entry of purchased goods from the money receiving
operation. However, even in this latter proposal, the separation of the
purchased goods entry from the money receiving operation causes another
problem in that the amount of money received is not always assured or
correct.
Additional documentation in the area of automated checkout systems includes
U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,993, issued to K. Sakai et al. on July 7, 1970, which
discloses an automatic ticket gate providing for bidirectional passage and
includes entrance and exit ticket slots, a ticket reader, and a passenger
direction detection circuit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,625, issued to Y. Mizuta et al. on Sept. 29, 1970,
discloses an automatic ticket gate for receiving a plurality of tickets in
rapid succession, for examination of the tickets with respect to validity
and for returning the tickets to the owners.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,932, issued to T. Morita on Feb. 2, 1971, discloses an
automatic ticket examining system and gate control system including a
plurality of ticket gates wherein at least one gate performs all the
functions of a complete gate, that is, receiving a ticket, checking its
validity, opening or closing the gateway, and returning or collecting the
ticket.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,206, issued to K. Osaki et al. on July 4, 1972,
discloses an automatic ticket gate wherein information on a ticket is read
and depending upon whether the information is valid or not, allows or
disallows the ticket owner to pass through the gate, such gate permitting
a predetermined number of misreadings of the ticket.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,697, issued to S. M. Weir on Feb. 13, 1973, discloses
an automatic marketing system wherein display scales are provided with
means for sensing the weight of articles therein, while card readers are
associated with the scales to identify customers selecting the articles.
Data processing equipment provides the customer with a printout of the
articles and the cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,933, issued to T. Tanaka et al. on Feb. 3, 1976,
discloses an automatic article vending machine that uses a card having a
predetermined monetary value which is decreased by the value of the
article purchased with the card.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,213, issued to Y. Nakamura on Jan. 10, 1978, discloses
a merchandise checkout system including a credit card reader operated by
the customer. The credit card is encoded with an amount of money and a
result is displayed and printed on a receipt and journal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,677, issued to H. S. Sarwin on June 4, 1985, discloses
a product control system for a supermarket which includes a bar code
reader at the checkout terminal for reading bar codes that are displayed
on the various shelves.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,083, issued to J. J. on Apr. 15, 1986, discloses a
checkout s including means through which a shopper must pass for
dispossessing the shopper of items for purchase, sensing means for
detecting the items, cashier stations separated from the sensing means for
printing the cost of the items and for receiving payment for the items,
and a pickup area where the shopper picks up the items.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,619, issued to R. A. Fry on Apr. 22, 1986, discloses an
automatic gate for a checkout lane which is controlled by the cash
register lock key.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,343, issued to D. R. Humble et al. on June 30, 1987,
discloses a self-service distribution system that includes a laser scanner
for reading UPC labels on products presented to the scanner by the
customer. The products go through a tunnel and are weighed to provide a
printed list and a price to the customer who then pays the cashier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,154, issued to D.M. Blanford on July 7, 1987, discloses
a scanning control system for merchandise checkout that includes a
scanning assembly, a display, a processor and a data terminal device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,357, issued to S. Douno et al. on Aug. 11, 1987,
discloses a method for confirming settled check cards and check card
drawing apparatus which may be used to cash a check or to deposit in an
account. The check card can be used with an automated teller machine (ATM)
or with an on-line teller machine (OTM).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,575, issued to J. W. Sloan on Mar. 15, 1988, discloses
a prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards which the
customer inserts into a card reader on the premises. The card reader is
coupled to a processor based control device which records the amount and
the rate of usage along with the customer account number.
And, U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,782, issued to B. M. Mergenthaler et al. on Oct.
4, 1988, discloses a checkout system including a scanner, display means, a
keyboard, a card reader, and processing means enabling the customer to
finalize and pay for the items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cashierless checkout system which
permits the checking out of consumer goods or merchandise in a supermarket
or like business entity without the aid or benefit of a cashier or
checkout clerk. More particularly, the present invention discloses a
checkout system that includes a consumer goods entry terminal wherein
goods to be purchased is scanned and a passcard is issued to the customer,
a money receiving terminal wherein the passcard is interpreted and
processed in a read/write section to pay for the scanned goods, and an
exit gate control unit which checks the passcard and permits the customer
to exit after correct payment for the scanned goods.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cashierless
checkout system comprising one or more consumer goods entry terminals,
each including a scanning section for scanning code data displayed on the
consumer goods, a displaying section, and a printing section for
respectively displaying and printing the consumer goods code data thus
scanned, and a passcard issuing section for issuing a passcard on which an
identification number of the customer and an amount of money are recorded,
one or more money receiving terminals which are separated from said
consumer goods entry terminals and each money receiving terminal including
a passcard read/write section for performing reading and/or writing
operations of said passcard upon insertion thereof into said money
receiving terminal, a money receiving section for receiving the amount of
money for the scanned goods, a printer section for issuing a receipt and a
display for displaying amount data and necessary expressions thereon, and
for dispensing said passcard onto which money received data are written
from said passcard read/write section after the reception of said amount
of money, an exit gate control unit which is provided in the vicinity of
an outlet of a checkout area and which includes a passcard checker for
checking said passcard to determine whether or not the amount of money is
received and an exit gate controller for controlling an exit gate so as to
enable the customers to exit under the control of said passcard checker,
and a control and processing unit which is coupled to said consumer goods
entry terminals, said money receiving terminals, and said exit gate
control unit so as to control the operations of said consumer goods entry
terminals, said money receiving terminals, and said exit gate control unit
thus coupled therewith and to store sold goods data for arithmetic
operation, whereby the money receiving operation is ensured by enabling
the passing of customers through said separately provided consumer goods
entry terminals, said money receiving terminals and said exit gate control
unit with the use of said passcard.
In view of the above discussion, a principal object of the present
invention is to provide a checkout system without the aid or benefit of a
cashier or a checkout clerk.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a checkout system
which includes goods scanning terminals, separate money receiving
terminals and an exit gate enabling customers to exit from the checkout
area after correct payment of money for the purchase of goods.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a checkout
system including goods scanning terminals, money receiving terminals and
control means coupled to said goods scanning terminals and to said money
receiving terminals to enable exit of said customers after payment for the
purchased goods.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cashierless
checkout system in a checkout area wherein the customer's entry operation
of consumer goods is separated from the money receiving operation and the
money received is ensured with the use of passcards which permit only
those customers who have paid the correct amount for their scanned goods
to pass through the exit gate provided at the exit of the checkout area.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become
apparent and fully understood from a reading of the following description
taken together with the annexed drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a cashierless checkout
system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the structure of the consumer goods entry
terminal;
FIG. 2B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing unit
in relation to the consumer goods entry terminal shown in FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the structure of the money receiving
terminal;
FIG. 3B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing unit
in relation to the money receiving terminal shown in FIG. 3A;
FIG. 4A is a block diagram of the structure of the exit gate control unit;
and
FIG. 4B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing unit
in relation to the exit gate control unit shown in FIG. 4A.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 shows a schematic
arrangement of the structure of the cashierless checkout system for use in
a store or like business entity. The checkout area 10 in the store is
illustrated as being that area within the boundary of the heavy solid line
12. A plurality of consumer goods entry terminals, as 14, 16, are located
at the entrance to the checkout area 10 for the convenience of the
customers who have selected goods or merchandise for purchase. Each of the
entry terminals 14, 16 includes a scanning section 18 conveniently located
for scanning consumer goods, a printing section 20 for printing data
corresponding to the consumer goods which are scanned, and a passcard
issuing section 22 for issuing passcards 24 to the customers. The
passcards 24 include information which gives the total amount of the
scanned goods and the customers' identification numbers. A displaying
section 26, also placed in a convenient location, provides the customer
with information concerning the scanned goods and the prices thereof.
A plurality of money receiving terminals, as 28, 30, are, separated in
physical location from the consumer goods entry terminals 14, 16. Each of
the money receiving terminals 28, 30 includes a passcard Read/Write (R/W)
section 32 for performing reading/ writing operations of passcards 24
issued from any of the consumer goods entry terminals 14, 16. Each of the
money receiving terminals 28, 30 includes a money receiving section 34
through which the customers pay money for their scanned goods and receive
their change, a printer section 36 for issuing receipts to the customers,
and a display section 38 for viewing of the transactions by the customers.
An exit gate control unit 40 is provided in the vicinity of a customer
outlet 42 of the checkout area 10 and which control unit includes a
passcard checker 44 for reading and collecting the passcards 24 which are
issued from the passcard issuing section 22 of the consumer goods entry
terminals 14, 16 and into which data is written indicating that the money
for the scanned goods is received in the money receiving section 34 of the
money receiving terminals 28, 30. An exit gate controller 46 of the
control unit 40 operates to open a gate 48 in accordance with money
received data read out from the passcards 24 to enable the customers to
pass through the gate 48 and to the outside of the checkout area 10.
A control and processing unit 50 is provided for controlling the operations
of the consumer goods entry terminals 14, 16, the money receiving
terminals 28, 30, and the exit gate control unit 40, and also for
processing and storing sold goods data, unpaid goods data, settlement data
and the like.
Next, the checkout operation and procedure of the cashierless checkout
system according to the present invention will be described with reference
to FIG. 1. In the drawing, the dotted line 52 indicates a path through the
checkout area 10 and along which a customer advances to perform the
various checkout operations. For the sake of convenience, it is assumed
that the customer uses the consumer goods entry terminal 14 and the money
receiving terminal 28, such terminals showing issuance of a passcard 24 at
the passcard issuing section 22 and the use of the passcard at the
passcard R/W section 32.
The customer initiates and enables scanning of the bar codes on the
merchandise or goods through the scanning section 18 of the consumer goods
entry terminal 14. An automatic scanner which permits automatic scanning
of the bar codes may be used, such as an ACM 650 Cashier Station which is
available from Check Robot Co., Ltd. The data thus scanned by the scanning
section 18 is sent to the control and processing unit 50 to be processed
and stored therein, to be displayed on the displaying section 26 of the
consumer goods entry terminal 14, and to be printed on a scanned goods
detailed sheet (not shown) by the printing section 20 of the terminal 14.
At the completion of scanning of all consumer goods, a final key (not
shown) is depressed by the customer to send a finalized signal to the
control and processing unit 50 which, in turn, receives the finalized
signal to calculate the total amount of the consumer goods as seen by the
scanning section 18 and to store the amount thus calculated in an unpaid
goods data file. The finalized signal also enables the control and
processing unit 50 to actuate the passcard issuing section 22 to issue a
passcard 24 in which the customer's ID number and the total amount of the
consumer goods are magnetically recorded and also to actuate the printing
section 20 to print the total amount of the consumer goods on the scanned
goods detailed sheet to be issued to the customer.
Next, the customer goes to the money receiving terminal 28 with the scanned
goods detailed sheet and with the passcard 24 issued from the issuing
section 22 of the consumer goods entry terminal 14 to pay the money for
the scanned goods. When the customer inserts the passcard 24 into the R/W
Section 32 of the money receiving terminal 28, the customer's ID number
and the total amount of money owed for the scanned goods are read and sent
to the control and processing unit 50 to be collated therein and compared
with the identification (ID) number and the total amount of money stored
therein and displayed on the display section 38 of the terminal 28. The
customer pays the correct amount of money for the scanned goods by putting
cash into the money receiving section 34 of the terminal 28 without the
aid of a salesclerk or the use of a prepaid card or the like. The money
receiving section 34 discharges or dispenses any necessary change in the
overall transaction. At the completion of the money receiving operation,
the control and processing unit 50 stores the result of the transaction in
a money received data file, actuates the passcard R/W section 32 to
dispense the passcard 24 (or a passcard which may be different from the
above-mentioned passcard) on which the money received is recorded, and
then actuates the printer section 36 of terminal 28 to issue a receipt of
the scanned goods to the customer.
The customer then goes to the exit gate control unit 40 and inserts the
passcard 24 into the passcard checker 44. When the passcard checker 44
confirms that the correct amount of money is received, the passcard 24 is
withdrawn and a command signal is sent from the passcard checker 44 to the
exit gate controller 46 of control unit 40 to open the gate 48 to enable
only those customers to pass therethrough who have paid the correct amount
of money for their scanned goods.
The individual terminals and the units employed in the cashierless checkout
system according to the present invention will be more concretely
described with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B. Along with
the control and processing unit 50, various other control units (not
shown) such as a personal computer, an office computer and the like may be
employed in accordance with the overall number of consumer goods entry
terminals 14, 16 and the number of money receiving terminals 28, 30. In
this embodiment, it is preferred that an office computer is employed. The
structure of such office computer is well known in the art, so that the
description thereof is omitted here and only the operation thereof will be
described with reference to a flow chart of the drawing.
The consumer goods entry terminal 14 will be described in more detail
relative to the operation thereof. FIG. 2A shows the structure of the
consumer goods entry terminal 14 and FIG. 2B is a flow chart of the data
processing operation from the consumer goods entry terminal 14 to the
control and processing unit 50. The consumer goods entry terminal 14
consists of a keyboard section 52, the displaying section 26, the scanning
section 18, the printing section 20, the passcard issuing section 22, a
control section 54 and an interface section 56 coupled to the control and
processing unit 50.
When a customer depresses a start key (FIG. 2B) on the keyboard section 52
(FIG. 2A) in order to start a scanning operation for the registration of
the goods to be purchased, a start signal is sent from the keyboard
section 52 (FIG. 2A) to the control section 54 which, in turn, transmits
the start signal thus received to the control and processing unit 50 via
the interface section 56. The control and processing unit 50 receives the
start signal and waits until a consumer goods data signal is transmitted
thereto (Blocks 58 and 60 in FIG. 2B). Then, the customer initiates and
enables scanning of the goods to be purchased by means of the scanning
section 18. Consumer goods data is read out by the scanning section 18 and
is sent to the control section 54 and then to the control and processing
unit 50 through the interface section 56. The control and processing unit
50 receives the consumer goods data (Block 60) and retrieves the price of
one of the purchased goods from a Price Look Up (PLU) file and reads out
the price of the scanned goods (Block 62). The price of one of the scanned
goods thus read out (the goods price data) is stored in an unpaid goods
registration file of the control and processing unit 50 together with the
store scanned goods data thus received (Block 64) and then such goods
price data is sent to the consumer goods entry terminal 14 (Block 66). The
control section 54 of the consumer goods entry terminal 14 receives the
goods price data and sends such data to the displaying section 26 and to
the printing section 20. The displaying section 26 displays the price of
the scanned goods based on the goods price data from the control section
54 and the printing section 20 prints the price of the scanned goods on a
scanned goods detailed sheet (Block 66). All of the remaining goods to be
are scanned by the scanning section 18 and are stored in the unpaid
registration file of the control and processing unit 50 in the same manner
as described above.
The customer then depresses a final key on the keyboard section 52 at the
completion of the scanning operation and of the registration of the store
scanned goods. When the final key is depressed, a registration final
signal is output from the keyboard section 52 and is sent to the control
and processing unit 50 through the control section 54 and through the
interface section 56. The control and processing unit 50 receives the
registration final signal and calculates the total price amount of the
store scanned goods (Blocks 68 and 70). The total amount-of-money data is
stored in the unpaid goods registration file of the control and processing
unit 50 and also is sent to the consumer goods entry terminal 14 (Blocks
72 and 74). The control section 54 of the consumer goods entry terminal 14
receives the record of the total amount of money and outputs data thereon
to the displaying section 26 and the printing section 20 of terminal 14.
The total amount of money is displayed on the displaying section 26 for
viewing by the customer and also is printed on the scanned goods detailed
sheet by the printing section 20. Then, the control and processing unit 50
sends the identification (ID) number of the customer and a command for
issuing a passcard signal to the consumer goods entry terminal 14 (Block
76). The control section 54 of the consumer goods entry terminal 14
receives the ID number and the command for issuing the passcard signal and
outputs the total amount of money owed for the store scanned goods to the
passcard issuing section 22 together with the ID number and the command
signal thus received. The passcard issuing and dispenses or passes out a
passcard 24 stored therewithin and magnetically records the ID number and
the total amount of money thereon. The customer receives the passcard 24
and goes to the money receiving, terminal 28 for payment of the store
scanned goods.
The money receiving terminal 28 will be described in more detail relative
to the operation thereof. FIG. 3A shows the structure of the money
receiving terminal 28 and FIG. 3B is a flow chart of the operation of the
control and processing unit 50. As shown in FIG. 3A, the money receiving
terminal 28 includes the passcard read/write (R/W) section 32, the display
section 38, the money receiving section 34, the printer section 36, a
control section 80 and an interface section 82 coupled to the control and
processing unit 50. The money receiving section 34 includes a cash
receiving section 84, a counting section 86, a cash storing section 88 and
a cash disbursing section 90 coupled along with the counting section 86 to
the control section 80.
When the customer inserts the passcard 24 into the passcard R/W section 32
(FIG. 3A) at the completion of the scanning operation and registration of
the store scanned goods, the passcard R/W section 32 reads out content
data that is recorded on the passcard 24 and sends the data thus read out
(the passcard data) to the control and processing unit 50 through the
control section 80 and the interface section 82. The control and
processing unit 50 receives the passcard data from the money receiving
terminal 28, reads out the total amount of money from the unpaid goods
registration file of the control and processing unit 50 which is based on
the ID number in the passcard data (Blocks 92 and 94 in FIG. 3B) and sends
the total amount of money data thus read out to the money receiving
terminal 28 (Block 96). The control section 80 of the money receiving
terminal 28 outputs the total amount of money data thus received to the
display section 38 to be displayed to the customer.
When the customer pays money for the store scanned goods to the money
receiving section 34, the cash receiving section 84 receives bills and
coins and feeds the money to the counting section 86 which, in turn,
counts the bills and coins received and then calculates the total amount
of money that the customer has paid. The counting section 86 sends
received cash data on the total amount of the paid money thus calculated
to the control and processing unit 50 through the control section 80 and
the interface section 82 and also feeds the bills and coins thus counted
to the cash storing section 88 to be stored therein. The control section
80 calculates the difference (change) between the total amount of money to
be paid which is sent from the control and processing unit 50 through the
interface section 82 and the total amount of money received which is sent
from the counting section 86. In case change is made, the control section
80 sends the amount of change and a change disbursing signal to the cash
disbursing section 90 and displays the amount of change on the display
section 38. Further, the control section 80 sends change data to the
control and processing unit 50 through the interface section 82. The
control and processing unit 50 receives the received money data and the
change data from the money receiving terminal 28 (Block 98) and stores the
customer's ID number, the received money data, and the change data in the
paid goods registration file (Block 100) and erases the data on the
customer who paid money for the store scanned goods from the unpaid goods
registration file (Block 102). Then, the control and processing unit 50
sends a receipt issuing signal and a passcard reissuing signal to the
money receiving terminal 28 (Block 104). The control section 80 of the
money receiving terminal 28 receives the receipt issuing signal and the
passcard reissuing signal and sends print data (the total amount of money
to be paid, the total amount of money received, and the amount of change)
to the printer section 36 and also sends pay up data indicating that the
money has already been paid to the passcard R/W section 32. The printer
section 36 receives the print data from the control section 80 and prints
the data on a receipt to be issued to the customer. The passcard R/W
section 32 receives the pay up data from the control section 80 and
magnetically records the data on the passcard 24 to be issued to the
customer. The customer receives the receipt and the pay up passcard, and
the change from the cash disbursing section 90 and then goes to the exit
gate control unit 40.
The exit gate control unit 40 provides the controls necessary to enable the
customer to pass from the checkout area 10 and through the exit gate 48
(FIG. 1). FIG. 4A shows the structure of the exit gate control unit 40 and
FIG. 4B is a flow chart of the operation of the control and processing
unit 50 in relation to the exit gate control unit 40. As shown in FIG. 4A,
the exit gate control unit 40 includes the passcard checker 44, the exit
gate controller 46, a control section 106 and an interface section 108
coupled to the control and processing unit 50. The passcard checker 44
includes a passcard receiving/returning section 110 and a passcard R/W
section 112.
When the customer inserts the passcard 24 into the passcard checker 44 of
the exit gate control unit 40 at the completion of payment for the store
scanned goods, the passcard receiving section 110 feeds the passcard 24 to
the passcard R/W section 112 which receives the passcard 24, reads out the
data magnetically recorded thereon and outputs the data thus read out to
the control section 106. Then, the control section 106, upon receipt of
the data on the passcard 24, recognizes the pay up data in the read out
data, sends a permission signal for gate opening to the exit gate
controller 46, and simulataneously therewith, transmits passcard recovery
data, including the ID number of the customer from whom the passcard 24
has been recovered, to the control and processing unit 50 through the
interface section 108 of the exit gate control unit 40. The control and
processing unit 50 receives the passcard recovery data thus transmitted to
register the customer's ID number in a recovery data file (Blocks 114 and
116 in FIG. 4B). The exit gate controller 46 receives the permission
signal for gate opening to output a gate open signal to open the gate 48
through which the customer can exit from the checkout area 10. The gate 48
is opened by the gate open signal and the customer goes outside the
checkout area 10 through the gate 48 with the store scanned goods.
However, on the other hand, when no pay up data is found on the passcard
24, the control section 106 outputs a passcard return signal to the
passcard receiving and returning section 110 (FIG. 4A) which discharges
the passcard 24 through an outlet thereof upon receiving the passcard
return signal. The system may be so designed as to announce by voice that
the customer is to pay up the money or to display an amount owed when no
pay up data is found. In this case, the customer can not go outside the
checkout area 10 until he goes to the money receiving terminal 28 with the
passcard 24 thus returned and pays up the correct amount of money.
There may be provided a plurality of gates such as those used at gateways
to a wicket or a recreation garden through which the customers can go in
and out one by one. Alternatively, the gate 48 may be constituted by a
conventional door, wherein a plurality of customers can pass through the
gate 48 at the same time, as long as measures are taken not to pass a
customer who does not pay up the owed money. As one of the proposed
measures, the system may be so constructed as to detect a person who
intends to pass through the gate 48 with a passcard 24 and thereby raise
an alarm of the fact that a person who has not paid the correct amount of
money still has the passcard 24 in his or her possession. The system can
be constructed such that an antenna of a predetermined configuration is
printed on the passcard 24 in the form of a sheet and the antenna is
sensed when the passcard passes through the gate 48. This antenna sensing
technique is well known in the art, so that the description thereof is
omitted.
In addition, there may be provided separate paths and exits (not shown)
which permit a person who does not purchase any goods to go outside
without passing in the path 52 along the consumer goods entry terminals
14, 16 and the money receiving terminals 28, 30 in the checkout area 10.
It is thus seen that herein shown and described is a cashierless checkout
system having an advantage that jamming or crowded conditions in the
checkout area can be relieved by separating the entry and scanning of
scanned goods from the payment of the money. In addition, a passcard is
issued to each customer to enable the customer to pass through the gate
provided at the exit of the checkout area. The system permits the customer
who has paid the correct amount of money for the store scanned goods to go
outside the checkout area and thereby ensure that the money has been
received for the scanned goods. Further, the number of consumer goods
entry terminals and the number of money receiving terminals to be
installed can be separately and freely selected in accordance with various
conditions such as the type of store and experience of customers in
operating the various terminals. In addition, a customer can selectively
use a disengaged terminal in certain instances which may include practice
or training in the operations of the system, so that the terminals can be
used effectively. Accordingly, there is provided a cashierless checkout
system by which the checking out operation is effectively and
advantageously performed.
The structure and arrangement of the present invention enable the
accomplishment of the objects and advantages mentioned above, and while a
preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein,
variations thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. It is
contemplated that all such variations not departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention hereof are to be construed in accordance with the
following claims.
Top